CHICO — Police think a man pepper-sprayed two lone women in the pre-dawn hours the last two Sundays, in an attempt to kidnap to possibly sexually assault the college students.

About 4:30 a.m. Sept. 18, a 22-year-old Chico State University student was walking home from her friend’s house and passed a black sedan near East Fifth and Flume streets, said Sgt. Rob Merrifield of Chico police.

A white man jumped out of the passenger seat and sprayed her with pepper spray. She screamed, tried to dial 9-1-1 and he got back in the car and fled.

On Sunday, a 19-year-old Chico State student was walking home about 5:50 a.m. near West Eighth and Hazel streets when a car passed her, turned around and pulled up alongside her, Merrifield said.

Again, a white male jumped out of the passenger seat and pepper sprayed the woman. He then pushed her to the sidewalk. She screamed, fought back and kicked the suspect. He let go of her and fled in the car.

Police are not releasing the women’s names for their safety, Merrifield said.

Because the man didn’t attempt to steal from the women or sexually assault them on the street, Merrifield said the man could have been trying to incapacitate the women to kidnap them and sexually assault them elsewhere.

“We’re concerned by the ramping up of violence,” he said of the escalation from no physical contact on Sept. 18 to a week later grabbing and pushing the woman.

Police think the suspect is the same in both cases and that the driver was an accomplice, Merrifield said. The women described the man as white, about 6 feet tall, in his early 20s. They said the car was a black BMW or Lexus sedan.

Chico police ask that anyone with information on the incidents call the department at 895-4911.

Merrifield recommends people avoid walking alone at night in lightly-traveled areas, he said.

“He’s not targeting women in broad daylight,” Merrifield said.

If people do choose to go out alone that late, they should be aware of their surroundings, have their phone out and avoid dark deserted areas, he said. If attacked, Merrifield recommended to scream, fight back and call 9-1-1.

He said it’s better to call police and report a suspicious person or vehicle than wait.

“If you see something that strikes you as odd, you need to learn to listen to that voice in your head that says something is wrong,” Merrifield said.